SC JUDGMENT FOR BJP’S CLAILM ON EVMS WERE NOT TRANSPRENT

With regading to the public intrest litigation filled by BJP’s member Subramanian swamy , The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Election Commission of India (EC) to generate a printed record containing the details of the vote cast to ensure elections are more transparent.

“We are satisfied that the paper trail is an indispensable requirement of free and fair elections,” said Chief Justice P. Sathasivam. “The confidence of the voters in the EVMs can be achieved only with the introduction of the paper trail.” said SC.

According to this judgement , EVMs will now have to be equipped with voter verifiable paper audit trail ( VVPAT) which is “a system of printing paper trail when the voter casts his vote, in addition to the electronic record of the ballot”, the judgement said. The paper record generated will have a serial number, name and symbol of candidate for whom the vote was cast. With an intent to have fullest transparency in the system and to restore the confidence of the voters, it is necessary to set up EVMs with VVPAT system”.

“Essentially, a small window will display for about 8 seconds details of your vote. Simultaneously, a slip will come out and will be dropped into a sealed box. The slip will not be given to anyone and the box will be opened only in case of a dispute,” said Meenakshi Arora, counsel for the commission.

This orders  EC to introduce EVMs with VVPAT in stages or area-wise in the ensuing general election, indicating that such a system is likely to be implemented in the coming elections scheduled from november.

This process is best since it has already been introduced earlier in Nagaland. EC has also said that there would not be any serious security and privacy issues with the implementation of the new system.

As it has been implemented in all the 21 polling stations of 51-Noksen (ST) Assembly Constituency of Nagaland, where elections were held on 4^th September successfully and also for further safeguards they should use close circuit cameras in initial stages added former chief election commissioner T.S. Krishnamurthy.

For  further details of this judgement:  http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/outtoday/9093.pdf